Method for producing a hand orthosis and hand orthosis

Abstract

A method for producing a hand orthosis, including the steps of: Producing an impression of at least one finger of a patient's hand and at least a part of a forearm, producing a finger section from a reproduction based on the impression, incorporating at least one finger segment in the finger section side corresponding to the hand surface, detecting the physiology of the patient's forearm using at least one captured image from the reproduction together with the finger section, thereby producing a digital 3D model, generating a rail based on the produced digital 3D model, securing at least one force-introducer onto or into the rail, securing a proximal end of the at least one finger segment to a distal end of the rail, and coupling the at least one force-introducer to the at least one finger segment. A hand orthosis is also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for producing a hand orthosis comprising a finger section for receiving a patient's hand, a rail for at least partially grasping a patient's forearm, and at least one finger segment coupled to a force-introducer for flexing and/or stretching at least one finger of a patient's hand, the method comprising:
 producing an impression of at least one finger of a patient's hand and of at least one part of a patient's forearm; 
 producing at least one finger section using the impression or using a reproduction based on the impression of the at least one finger of the patient's hand; 
 incorporating at least one finger segment into the side of the finger section corresponding to the hand surface; 
 detecting the physiology of the patient's forearm using at least one captured image of the impression or of a reproduction of the forearm based on the impression together with the finger section and generating a digital 3D model on the basis of the at least one captured image; 
 generating a rail based on the generated digital 3D model; 
 securing at least one force-introducer onto or into the rail; 
 securing a proximal end of the at least one finger segment to a distal end of the rail; and 
 coupling the at least one force-introducer to the at least one finger segment. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the finger section is produced by applying silicone to the impression or to the reproduction based on the impression. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one finger segment is incorporated in the silicone using a silicone punch. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the module segment is formed as a linear segment or as an articulated segment, and wherein the length of the at least one finger segment is adjusted by combining several module segments or by combining one or more articulated segments with one or more linear segments. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 2 , wherein different silicones with different degrees of hardness are used to produce the finger section and in that, or silicone with a softer degree of hardness is used in a region of the incorporating of the at least one finger segment, and wherein silicone with a harder degree of hardness is used in a region of a proximal interphalangeal joint (PIP joint) and/or a distal interphalangeal joint (PIP joint) of the finger segment. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising: stabilizing and/or stiffening a proximal interphalangeal joint (PIP joint) and/or a distal interphalangeal joint (PIP joint) by additionally incorporating a material in the silicone which has a higher degree of hardness than the silicone. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the impression is produced with a bent position of the patient's hand. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the bent position is held by a positioning device. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising: adapting a length of the at least one finger segment to a length of a patient's finger by arranging and coupling one or more module segments between a starting segment coupled to the rail and an end segment coupled to the force-introducer. 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the physiology of the forearm and thereby the digital 3D model is detected using the at least one captured image of the impression or the reproduction of the forearm based on the impression, together with the finger section and with padding applied to at least parts of the finger section and/or at least parts of the impression or the at least one reproduction based on the at least one impression. 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein an offset for the application of padding is added to the digital 3D model. 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising: applying padding to at least a part of a dorsum of the finger section and/or to at least part of the rail. 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a palm support and/or a forearm support is added to the digital 3D model. 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein, before the physiology of the forearm is detected using the at least one captured image, at least one marking line or a plurality of marking points are applied to the impression or to the reproduction based on the impression for defining a subsequent contour of the rail.